System and method to enable users to voice interact with video advertisements

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that has a processing system including a processor and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations including receiving a request from a viewer of a content stream displayed by a TV client, wherein the request is received via a digital assistant, determining an advertisement campaign being displayed in the content stream, retrieving information on a product associated with the advertising campaign, and sending the information to the TV client, wherein the TV client displays the information concerning the product. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/733,915, filed Sep. 20, 2018, the contents of which is herebyincorporated by reference into this application as if set forth hereinin full.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to a system and method to enable users tovoice interact with video advertisements.

BACKGROUND

Television advertisements typically occur at designated portions of avideo feed, typically a national network feed. The program may includead insertion markers that delimit where local advertising may be splicedinto the video stream by an “over-the-top” (OTT) content deliveryservice, or by a set-top box. A manifest may accompany and identify thesegments, or data files, comprising the video stream, which can aid aclient device to learn of advertising opportunities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a communications network in accordance with variousaspects described herein.

FIG. 2A is an activity diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a system functioning within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2B depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2C depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2D is a flow diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a method performed within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2E is a diagram illustrating an exemplary overlay comprising anadvertisement.

FIG. 2F is a diagram illustrating an exemplary overlay comprising anadvertisement.

FIG. 2G is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary, non-limitingembodiment of a method performed within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of amobile network platform in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acommunication device in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for a system that permits a user to interact with a digitalassistant to gain further information about an advertised product. Otherembodiments are described in the subject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a device,comprising: a processing system including a processor; and a memory thatstores executable instructions that, when executed by the processingsystem, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:receiving a request from a viewer of a content stream displayed by a TVclient, wherein the request is received via a digital assistant;determining an advertisement campaign being displayed in the contentstream; retrieving information on a product associated with theadvertising campaign; and sending the information to the TV client,wherein the TV client displays the information concerning the product.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a non-transitory,machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, whenexecuted by a processing system including a processor, facilitateperformance of operations, the operations comprising: receiving an oralrequest from a viewer of a content stream displayed by a TV client topurchase a product displayed in an advertising campaign illustrated bythe content stream; determining information associated with options,features, or a combination thereof for purchase of the product; andsending the information to the TV client, wherein the TV client pausesthe content stream and displays the information concerning the product.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a method,comprising: receiving, by a processing system including a processor, arequest for purchase of a product displayed in an advertising campaignin a content stream displayed by a TV client; determining, by theprocessing system, information associated with options, features, or acombination thereof for purchase of the product; and sending, by theprocessing system, the information to the TV client, wherein the TVclient pauses the content stream and displays the information concerningthe product.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a communications network 100 inaccordance with various aspects described herein. In particular, acommunications network 125 is presented for providing broadband access110 to a plurality of data terminals 114 via access terminal 112,wireless access 120 to a plurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126via base station or access point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality oftelephony devices 134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140to a plurality of audio/video display devices 144 via media terminal142. In addition, communication network 125 is coupled to one or morecontent sources 175 of audio, video, graphics, text and/or other media.While broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 andmedia access 140 are shown separately, one or more of these forms ofaccess can be combined to provide multiple access services to a singleclient device (e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content viamedia terminal 142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access viaswitching device 132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements(NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the broadband access 110,wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or thedistribution of content from content sources 175. The communicationsnetwork 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, avoice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, Internet protocol (IP)network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G,or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network,UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless accessnetwork, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communicationsnetwork.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digitalsubscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem terminationsystem (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal.The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers,netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interfacespecification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modemsuch as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/orother access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can includea 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point thatoperates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or otherwireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobilephones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or othermobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a privatebranch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VoIPgateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. Thetelephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with orwithout a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones and/or other telephonydevices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cablehead-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or othermedia terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions withor without a set top box, personal computers and/or other displaydevices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcasttelevision and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streamingvideo and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks,data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or othersources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can includewired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152,154, 156, etc. can include service switching points, signal transferpoints, service control points, network gateways, media distributionhubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and othernetwork nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic overwired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and otherpublic networks as well as one or more private networks, for managingsubscriber access, for billing and network management and for supportingother network functions.

FIG. 2A is an activity diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a method performed within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein. When anenhanced ad is displayed to a user on a TV screen 244, the user mayprovide oral input to ask a smart home voice operated digital assistant214 to provide further information. As a result, the digital assistant214 contacts a backend server that interacts with the user via both thedigital assistant 214 and via the viewing device (TV or mobile device)244 and allows the end user to view various purchasing options as wellas acquisition the product. With the growing prevalence of smart homedigital assistants, users may be provided with smoother and a morenatural buying experience conducted orally. The commercial benefit tothe advertiser is effectiveness and more direct path from the displayingan advertisement to purchase, allowing a “call-to-action” ad on atraditional “brand awareness” space.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in an embodiment, an advertisement may be displayedon a television 244, typically through a set-top box or through adedicated application, known hereinafter as a TV client. Alternatively,the advertisement may be streamed through a personal computer or amobile device. If the advertisement is an enhanced advertisement, thenan overlay is displayed along with the ad. The overlay provides a visualindication to the viewer that voice commands are activated with thisadvertisement. The overlay may also contain the exact trigger phrase theuser should use to activate the flow on the digital assistant. Uponviewing the overlay of the enhanced advertisement, the viewer may wishto get more information about the product or service being advertised,and can make a request through a smart home digital assistant 214, whichmay be a form of data terminal 114. In an embodiment illustrated in FIG.2A, the viewer asks the smart home digital assistant 214 to purchase theproduct. As a result, the digital assistant 214 contacts a backendserver (not shown) that interacts with both the digital assistant 214and the user via the viewing device 244 (TV or mobile device) and allowsthe viewer to view various purchasing options as well as acquisition theproduct. As shown in FIG. 2A, the system may provide the viewer withoptions for the product, such as color, size, quantity, etc. At the sametime that the digital assistant 214 is listing options for the viewer,the advertisement on the television 244 is paused, and imagesillustrating the options are provided to the viewer.

Next, the viewer responds by providing the digital assistant 214 with aspecific option. The digital assistant 214 will acknowledge theselection provided by the viewer, and at the same time, an image of theselected option will be displayed on the TV 244. Then, the user confirmsthe purchase of the selected product with the digital assistant 214. Thedigital assistant 214 then creates a transaction to purchase theselected product or service, and confirms the purchase. Finally, thesystem resumes playback of the content on the TV 244.

FIGS. 2B and 2C depict an illustrative embodiment of a method performedby a system 200 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Asshown in FIG. 2B, system 200 comprises a television client 244, adigital (voice) assistant 214, a skill/action server 252, a notificationserver 254, and an eCommerce provider 256. In the method performed bysystem 200, a customer starts watching a program on the televisionclient 244. Eventually, the television client 244 displays anadvertisement with an overlay indicating that the user may interact withtheir digital assistant 214 concerning the advertisement. The overlaymay indicate a particular activation phrase to invoke such interaction.For example, the overlay may indicate that the viewer can ask Alexa,Google, Cortana, etc., about the product or service, depending upon aprearranged association with a preferred digital assistant 214 andlinking between the digital assistant credentials and the televisionclient credentials. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2B, the viewerstates, “Alexa, I want to buy this.” The digital assistant 214 discernsthe intent of the viewer's request, and may, for example, pass thisinformation along to a skill/action server 252. The skill/action server252 determines a token for the particular television client 244 on whichthe advertisement is playing.

In an embodiment, the skill/action server 252 may disambiguate theadvertisement and product or service to which the viewer is referringto. The skill/action server 252 may do this by determining whichadvertisement is currently playing. As shown in FIG. 2B, theskill/action server 252 may send a request to a notification server 254to provide an identification of the advertisement that is currentlyplaying. The notification server 254 will, in turn, send a request tothe television client 244. The television client 244 will respond withthe advertisement details to the skill/action server 252. Next, theskill/action server 252 will locate the particular advertisementcampaign, and the process continues in FIG. 2C.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the skill/action server 252 requests detailsconcerning the advertised product or service from an eCommerce provider256. The eCommerce provider 256 sends those details, optionally alongwith graphics for the products/services, back to the skill/action server252. The skill/action server 252 then causes the advertisement campaignads to be displayed on the TV client 244.

Next, a loop is performed where the customer can either issue a voicecommand to the digital assistant 214, or alternatively provide aselection on a remote controller of the TV client 244. Hence, thecustomer has the ability to control the process through either means ofuser input. The user input from either the digital assistant 214 or theTV client 244 is forwarded to the skill/action server 252. Theskill/action server 252 decides what the next step in the process shouldbe, and provides updated visual content to the TV client 244 and/or aresponse to the digital assistant 214, so that an audible response canbe provided to the customer. This process continues in a loop until theend of the advertisement campaign is reached, or a purchase command isreceived.

Next illustrated in FIG. 2C are steps when the customer provides apurchase command as user input though either the digital assistant 214,or through the TV client 244. Next, the skill/action server 252 conductsa purchase transaction with the eCommerce server 256, and receives aconfirmation of the purchase. The skill/action server 252 provides theconfirmation back to the customer through the digital assistant 214and/or the TV client 244. Then the TV client 244 resumes playback of thecontent.

Notably, the following additional features can be implemented:

-   -   linking a TV client user's account to their digital assistant        account    -   providing a variety of options for the advertised        product/service    -   synchronized playback between the TV client and the digital        assistant during the customer interaction    -   interchangeable user interface between the digital assistant and        user input to the TV client    -   providing the ability to purchase the product/service while        pausing the content    -   identifying the customer from interaction with the digital        assistant    -   recognizing from the context of the enhanced advertisement and        the customer profile which products/services the customer is        referring to    -   resuming content playback on completion of the interaction    -   providing player branding (skin) around video-based purchasing    -   using a key phrase to initiate interaction    -   providing profiles/permissions for specific household devices    -   providing profiles/permissions for household users    -   providing purchase confirmations through alternative        notifications, such as texts or emails

FIG. 2D is a flow diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a method performed within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein. As shown inFIG. 2D, a user is viewing a content stream on a TV client 244. At somepoint in the viewing, the user pauses the content stream. The TV clientdisplays a pause screen with an overlay. The pause screen may comprisethe title of the content stream, the paused position in the contentstream, and user controls. While the pause screen is displayed, the TVclient requests an advertisement from the Ad Server 258. The Ad Server258 sends a URL where content for the advertisement can be found.

Next, the TV client 244 plays the advertisement. The pause-screen videoadvertisement allows for a non-intrusive brand-awareness ad to bedisplayed on top of the paused frame. The overlay doesn't obscure thepaused frame, so that the viewers are still reminded of the contentstream that is paused. An exemplary overlay comprising an advertisementis illustrated in FIG. 2E. The overlay 265 represents unused real estatefor advertisers. In some situations, other viewers may sit in front ofthe pause screen and wait for another viewer to complete their otheractivities, before resuming the program. These captive viewers can beshown relevant advertising at that time. The TV client 244 reports tothe Ad Server 258 that the advertisement is being displayed, and the AdServer records the impression.

In an embodiment, the advertisement may comprise an interactivecampaign, i.e., an enhanced advertisement, as described above. Such anadvertisement may appear as an overlay with user controls, such as shownin FIG. 2F. The user can still see the content stream beneath theoverlay. The user may select an action provided by the user controls.For example, the user may decide to buy the product or service beingadvertised, for example by selecting the Buy Now button. In such event,the TV client will report the interaction to the Ad Server, whichrecords the interaction, e.g., selecting the Buy Now button 267. In anembodiment, the TV client receives and displays confirmation of purchaseof the product or service, which may be supplied by a vendor local tothe viewer. In an embodiment, the vendor may be identified in a profileof the viewer.

Following the completion of the advertisement, the TV client may returnto the original pause screen, or play additional advertisements. Whenthe user returns to the program, then the TV client resumes playing thecontent stream.

Notably, the following additional features can be implemented:

-   -   If a pause buffer limits the allowed pause time, a countdown may        be part of the overlay once the user starts interacting with the        ad    -   The user may choose to send the ad to a mobile device, to        interact with the ad on the mobile device.

FIG. 2G is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary, non-limitingembodiment of a method performed within the communication network ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Whenever auser invokes a trick mode, such as fast-forward or rewind, the contentstream is paused by the TV client 244, and an overlay is displayed bythe TV client 244 that provides an indication of the point in theprogram that the user is seeking.

When the user locates the point in the content stream that they wish toview, as they release the fast-forward or rewind button, press play, orotherwise end the trick mode, normally the TV client 244 will resume thecontent stream at a frame somewhat before, in the case offast-forwarding, or after, in the case of rewinding, the exact framedisplayed by the overlay when the user interaction occurs. The TV client244 provides this functionality to compensate for the delay inherent inthe user's interaction, after they recognize the point in the contentstream that they wish to view. While the overlay is displayed, the TVclient 244 requests an advertisement from the Ad Server 258. The AdServer 258 sends a URL where content for the advertisement can be found.

However, in an embodiment, instead of resuming the content stream, theTV client 244 dynamically provides the advertisement before resuming thecontent stream. In other words, the advertisement can be displayed atany point in the content stream, subject to the dynamic interaction withthe user's selection of a position in the content stream through thetrick mode.

In an embodiment, the ad selected by the Ad Server 258 may be anadvertisement related to the content about to be displayed in thecontent stream. For example, the user may wish to view a car chasescene, and the Ad Server 258 may choose an advertisement for a vehicleappearing in the car chase scene. In another embodiment, theadvertisement may be targeted to the user. In another embodiment, theadvertisement may be an enhanced advertisement, as described above. Inanother embodiment, the enhanced advertisement can be supplemented witha source of the product or service advertised, based on the location ofthe user.

Notably, the following additional features can be implemented:

-   -   The ad may be of a special short format.    -   The ad may be a recap of missed ads after a fast-forward action.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIGS. 2A-2G,it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matteris not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication networkin accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular avirtualized communication network is presented that can be used toimplement some or all of the subsystems and functions of communicationnetwork 100, the subsystems and functions of system 200, and methodspresented in FIGS. 1, 2A-2G and 3.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leveragescloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via atransport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or oneor more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, thiscloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leveragesapplication programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity fromservices and operations; supports more nimble business models; andrapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirementsincluding traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity ofperformance and reliability expectations.

In contrast to traditional network elements—which are typicallyintegrated to perform a single function, the virtualized communicationnetwork employs virtual network elements 330, 332, 334, etc. thatperform some or all of the functions of network elements 150, 152, 154,156, etc. For example, the network architecture can provide a substrateof networking capability, often called Network Function VirtualizationInfrastructure (NFVI) or simply infrastructure that is capable of beingdirected with software and Software Defined Networking (SDN) protocolsto perform a broad variety of network functions and services. Thisinfrastructure can include several types of substrates. The most typicaltype of substrate being servers that support Network FunctionVirtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwarding capabilities basedon generic computing resources, with specialized network technologiesbrought to bear when general purpose processors or general purposeintegrated circuit devices offered by merchants (referred to herein asmerchant silicon) are not appropriate. In this case, communicationservices can be implemented as cloud-centric workloads.

As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in FIG. 1), suchas an edge router can be implemented via a virtual network element 330composed of NFV software modules, merchant silicon, and associatedcontrollers. The software can be written so that increasing workloadconsumes incremental resources from a common resource pool, and moreoverso that it's elastic: so the resources are only consumed when needed. Ina similar fashion, other network elements such as other routers,switches, edge caches, and middle-boxes are instantiated from the commonresource pool. Such sharing of infrastructure across a broad set of usesmakes planning and growing infrastructure easier to manage.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wiredand/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces toprovide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130,media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distributionof content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, insome cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place,and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times,the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannotbe abstracted or virtualized, and might require special DSP code andanalog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementationas virtual network elements 330, 332 or 334. These network elements canbe included in transport layer 350.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transportlayer 350 to provide the virtual network elements 330, 332, 334, etc. toprovide specific NFVs. In particular, the virtualized network functioncloud 325 leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures tosupport networking workloads. The virtualized network elements 330, 332and 334 can employ network function software that provides either aone-for-one mapping of traditional network element function oralternately some combination of network functions designed for cloudcomputing. For example, virtualized network elements 330, 332 and 334can include route reflectors, domain name system (DNS) servers, anddynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers, system architectureevolution (SAE) and/or mobility management entity (MME) gateways,broadband network gateways, IP edge routers for IP-VPN, Ethernet andother services, load balancers, distributers and other network elements.Because these elements don't typically need to forward large amounts oftraffic, their workload can be distributed across a number ofservers—each of which adds a portion of the capability, and overallwhich creates an elastic function with higher availability than itsformer monolithic version. These virtual network elements 330, 332, 334,etc. can be instantiated and managed using an orchestration approachsimilar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualizednetwork function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilitiesof the VNE 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide the flexible and expandedcapabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. Inparticular, network workloads may have applications distributed acrossthe virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computingenvironment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrateworkloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these thirdparty locations.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein. In order to provide additional context for various embodimentsof the embodiments described herein, FIG. 4 and the following discussionare intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment 400 in which the various embodiments of thesubject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computingenvironment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, TV client, digitalassistant, skill/action server, notification server, eCommerce provider,and/or virtual network elements 330, 332, 334, etc. Each of thesedevices can be implemented via computer-executable instructions that canrun on one or more computers, and/or in combination with other programmodules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more processors aswell as other application specific circuits such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine,programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals ordata and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. Itshould be noted that while any functions and features described hereinin association with the operation of a processor could likewise beperformed by a processing circuit.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which cancomprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured dataor unstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devicesor other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to storedesired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or“non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any informationdelivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signalsrefers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged in such a manner as to encode information in one or moresignals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication mediacomprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 4, the example environment can comprise acomputer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, asystem memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any ofvarious commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors andother multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that canfurther interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can bestored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines thathelp to transfer information between elements within the computer 402,such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAMsuch as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414(e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal hard disk drive 414 can also beconfigured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), amagnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to aremovable diskette 418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading aCD-ROM disk 422 or, to read from or write to other high capacity opticalmedia such as the DVD). The hard disk drive 414, magnetic disk drive 416and optical disk drive 420 can be connected to the system bus 408 by ahard disk drive interface 424, a magnetic disk drive interface 426 andan optical drive interface 428, respectively. The interface 424 forexternal drive implementations comprises at least one or both ofUniversal Serial Bus (USB) and Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 1394 interface technologies. Other external driveconnection technologies are within contemplation of the embodimentsdescribed herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 402, the drives and storagemedia accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refersto a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and aremovable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other types of storage media which arereadable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flashmemory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the exampleoperating environment, and further, that any such storage media cancontain computer-executable instructions for performing the methodsdescribed herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412,comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions ofthe operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and apointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown)can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick,a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and otherinput devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through aninput device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408,but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, anIEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. Itwill also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display,a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving displayinformation associated with computer 402 via any communication means,including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to themonitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral outputdevices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remotecomputer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallycomprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device 450is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprise wired/wirelessconnectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/or larger networks,e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WAN networkingenvironments are commonplace in offices and companies, and facilitateenterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all of which canconnect to a global communications network, e.g., the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can beconnected to the local network 452 through a wired and/or wirelesscommunication network interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 canfacilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 452, which canalso comprise a wireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with thewireless adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprisea modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It willbe appreciated that the network connections shown are example and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers can beused.

The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bedin a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is awireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enablessuch devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out;anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radiotechnologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag, etc.) to providesecure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can beused to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wirednetworks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operatein the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with productsthat contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can providereal-world performance similar to the basic 10 BaseT wired Ethernetnetworks used in many offices.

Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156,TV client, digital assistant, skill/action server, notification server,eCommerce provider, and/or virtual network elements 330, 332, 334, etc.In one or more embodiments, the mobile network platform 510 can generateand receive signals transmitted and received by base stations or accesspoints such as base station or access point 122. Generally, wirelessnetwork platform 510 can comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways,interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, that facilitate bothpacket-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP), frame relay,asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS) traffic(e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation for networkedwireless telecommunication. As a non-limiting example, wireless networkplatform 510 can be included in telecommunications carrier networks, andcan be considered carrier-side components as discussed elsewhere herein.Mobile network platform 510 comprises CS gateway node(s) 512 which caninterface CS traffic received from legacy networks like telephonynetwork(s) 540 (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), orpublic land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system #7 (SS7)network 570. Circuit switched gateway node(s) 512 can authorize andauthenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from such networks.Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, or roaming,data generated through SS7 network 570; for instance, mobility datastored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside in memory530. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based traffic andsignaling and PS gateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTSnetwork, CS gateway node(s) 512 can be realized at least in part ingateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated thatfunctionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PSgateway node(s) 518, and serving node(s) 516, is provided and dictatedby radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform 510 fortelecommunication.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticatePS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions cancomprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to thewireless network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550,enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can beembodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced withmobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to benoted that WANs 550 and enterprise network(s) 560 can embody, at leastin part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Basedon radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) 517,packet-switched gateway node(s) 518 can generate packet data protocolcontexts when a data session is established; other data structures thatfacilitate routing of packetized data also can be generated. To thatend, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 can comprise a tunnelinterface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in 3GPP UMTSnetwork(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetized communicationwith disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Fi networks.

In embodiment 500, wireless network platform 510 also comprises servingnode(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) withintechnology resource(s) 517, convey the various packetized flows of datastreams received through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to be noted thatfor technology resource(s) that rely primarily on CS communication,server node(s) can deliver traffic without reliance on PS gatewaynode(s) 518; for example, server node(s) can embody at least in part amobile switching center. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, servingnode(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRS support node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s)514 in wireless network platform 510 can execute numerous applicationsthat can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows,and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Suchapplication(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (forexample, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided bywireless network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that arepart of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gatewaynode(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a datasession, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. Inaddition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utilityserver(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, anoperations and maintenance server, a security server that can implementat least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as othersecurity mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s)secure communication served through wireless network platform 510 toensure network's operation and data integrity in addition toauthorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s)can provision services from external network(s) like networks operatedby a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or GlobalPositioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s)can also provision coverage through networks associated to wirelessnetwork platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same serviceprovider), such as the distributed antennas networks shown in FIG. 1(s)that enhance wireless service coverage by providing more networkcoverage.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processorsconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of macrowireless network platform 510. To that end, the one or more processorcan execute code instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It isshould be appreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager,which operates in substantially the same manner as describedhereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related tooperation of wireless network platform 510. Other operationalinformation can comprise provisioning information of mobile devicesserved through wireless platform network 510, subscriber databases;application intelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates,flat-rate programs, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s)consistent with telecommunication protocols for operation of disparateradio, or wireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can alsostore information from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN550, enterprise network(s) 570, or SS7 network 560. In an aspect, memory530 can be, for example, accessed as part of a data store component oras a remotely connected memory store.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 5, and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented.While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination withother program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines,programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particulartasks and/or implement particular abstract data types.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative embodiment of a communicationdevice 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as anillustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobiledevices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 TV client, digitalassistant, or other client devices for communication via eithercommunications network 125.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, apower supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, anorientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In anembodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 withnavigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interfacehaving graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The touch screen display 610 can beequipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technologyto detect how much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on aportion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can beused to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functionsof the user interface. The display 610 can be an integral part of thehousing assembly of the communication device 600 or an independentdevice communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface(such as a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 600 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity modulesuch as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal IntegratedCircuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifyingsubscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and soon.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in theclaims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only anddoesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “afirst determination,” “a second determination,” and “a thirddetermination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determinationis to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “datastore,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciatedthat the memory components described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile andnonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further,nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory cancomprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising,these and any other suitable types of memory.

Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can bepracticed with other computer system configurations, comprisingsingle-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computingdevices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-heldcomputing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tabletcomputers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. Theillustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network; however, some if not allaspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alonecomputers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules canbe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificialintelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more featuresdescribed herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection withautomatically identifying acquired cell sites that provide a maximumvalue/benefit after addition to an existing communication network) canemploy various AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodimentsthereof. Moreover, the classifier can be employed to determine a rankingor priority of each cell site of the acquired network. A classifier is afunction that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x₁, x₂, x₃, x₄ . . .x_(n)), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, that is,f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to prognose or infer an action that a user desiresto be automatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is anexample of a classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates byfinding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which thehypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria from thenon-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classificationcorrect for testing data that is near, but not identical to trainingdata. Other directed and undirected model classification approachescomprise, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neuralnetworks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification modelsproviding different patterns of independence can be employed.Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statisticalregression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments canemploy classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generictraining data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UEbehavior, operator preferences, historical information, receivingextrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via alearning or training phase within a classifier constructor and featureselection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automaticallylearn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited todetermining according to predetermined criteria which of the acquiredcell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which ofthe acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existingcommunication network coverage, etc.

As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, theterms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, orcomprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to anoperational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, whereinthe entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. As an example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By wayof illustration and not limitation, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In addition, these components can execute from variouscomputer readable media having various data structures stored thereon.The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such asin accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., datafrom one component interacting with another component in a local system,distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet withother systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be anapparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by asoftware or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein theprocessor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes atleast a part of the software or firmware application. As yet anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus that provides specificfunctionality through electronic components without mechanical parts,the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to executesoftware or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality ofthe electronic components. While various components have beenillustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiplecomponents can be implemented as a single component, or a singlecomponent can be implemented as multiple components, without departingfrom example embodiments.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communicationsmedia. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but arenot limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk,magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digitalversatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g.,card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art willrecognize many modifications can be made to this configuration withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to meanserving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or designdescribed herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments ordesigns. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended topresent concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, theterm “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive“or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “Xemploys A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusivepermutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both Aand B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoinginstances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in thisapplication and the appended claims should generally be construed tomean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context tobe directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobiledevice” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to awireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wirelesscommunication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video,sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. Theforegoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with referenceto the related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” andthe like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless contextwarrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should beappreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automatedcomponents supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacityto make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms),which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially anycomputing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited tocomprising, single-core processors; single-processors with softwaremultithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-coreprocessors with software multithread execution capability; multi-corecore processors with hardware multithread technology; parallelplatforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory.Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signalprocessor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmablelogic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), adiscrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as, but not limitedto, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, inorder to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment.A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computingprocessing units.

As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” data storage,” “database,”and substantially any other information storage component relevant tooperation and functionality of a component, refer to “memorycomponents,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprisingthe memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components orcomputer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

What has been described above includes mere examples of variousembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentembodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/orclaimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes”is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term isintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupledto”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/orindirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Suchitems and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions,communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functionalblocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signalconveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one ormore intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format ofinformation in a signal, while one or more elements of the informationin the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can berecognized by the second item. In a further example of indirectcoupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the seconditem, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more interveningitems.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A voice-assistant device, comprising: aprocessing system including a processor; and a memory that storesexecutable instructions that, when executed by the processing system,facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: linkingaccount credentials of a viewer of the voice-assistant device with a TVclient displaying a content stream, wherein the TV client displays anadvertisement that includes a visual indication to the viewer that voicecommands are activated responsive to the advertisement being an enhancedadvertisement, wherein the TV client is separate from thevoice-assistant device, wherein the visual indication provides aparticular activation phrase to invoke the voice commands, and whereinthe TV client provides the visual indication to the viewer; receivingthe particular activation phrase in a request from the viewer;determining an intent of the request; sending the intent to a skillserver, wherein the skill server sends a request to a notificationserver to provide an identification of the advertisement that is beingdisplayed, wherein the TV client identifies the advertisement responsiveto a query from the notification server; retrieving purchasing optionsfor a product or service associated with the advertisement from theskill server, wherein the skill server sends the purchasing options tothe TV client, wherein the TV client pauses the content streamcomprising the advertisement and displays the purchasing optionsconcerning the product or service displayed on top of a paused frame ofthe content stream; and sending interaction data to the skill server,wherein the interaction data is representative of user input related tointeraction with the voice-assistant device responsive to informationdisplayed by the TV client.
 2. The voice-assistant device of claim 1,further comprising establishing an account linking between thevoice-assistant device and the TV client.
 3. The voice-assistant deviceof claim 2, wherein the particular activation phrase is for one of aplurality of voice assistants having previously established accountlinking with the TV client.
 4. The voice-assistant device of claim 1,wherein the operations further comprise: retrieving further informationresponsive to the user input; and sending the further information to theTV client, wherein the TV client displays the further information. 5.The voice-assistant device of claim 4, wherein the further informationcomprises confirmation of purchase of the product.
 6. Thevoice-assistant device of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise: instructing the TV client to pause display of the contentstream responsive to receiving the particular activation phrase, whereina portion of the paused frame is visible to the viewer.
 7. Thevoice-assistant device of claim 1, wherein the request is received viathe TV client.
 8. The voice-assistant device of claim 1, wherein theprocessing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in adistributed processing environment.
 9. A non-transitory,machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, whenexecuted by a processing system including a processor, facilitateperformance of operations, the operations comprising: linking accountcredentials of a viewer of a voice-assistant device with a TV clientdisplaying a content stream, wherein the TV client is separate from thevoice-assistant device; displaying an advertisement received from an adserver, wherein the displaying includes a visual indication to a viewerthat oral requests are activated responsive to the advertisement beingan enhanced advertisement, wherein the visual indication provides aparticular activation phrase to invoke the oral requests; sendingimpression data to the ad server that the advertisement has beenpresented to the viewer; receiving an oral request from the viewer ofthe advertisement for information about a product in the advertisement;responsive to receiving the oral request, determining an intent of theoral request; sending the intent to a skill server, wherein the skillserver sends a request to a notification server to provide anidentification of the advertisement that is being displayed, wherein theTV client identifies the advertisement responsive to a query from thenotification server; receiving information associated with options,features, or a combination thereof for purchase of the product from theskill server; pausing a content stream and displaying the informationconcerning the product; and sending interaction data to the skillserver, wherein the interaction data is representative of userinteraction responsive to the information displayed.
 10. Thenon-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein theoperations further comprise: receiving oral input responsive to theinformation displayed.
 11. The non-transitory, machine-readable mediumof claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise: retrieving furtherinformation responsive to the oral input; and displaying the furtherinformation.
 12. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim11, wherein the further information comprises confirmation of purchaseof the product.
 13. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim9, wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processorsoperating in a distributed processing environment.
 14. Thenon-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein theprocessing system interfaces with the voice assistant device.
 15. Amethod, comprising: linking, by a processing system including aprocessor, account credentials of a viewer of a voice-assistant devicewith a TV client displaying a content stream, wherein the TV client isseparate from the voice-assistant device; displaying, by the processingsystem, the content stream including a product in an advertisement,wherein the advertisement is received from an ad server; displaying, bythe processing system, a visual indication that voice commands areactivated responsive to the advertisement being an enhancedadvertisement, wherein the visual indication provides a particularactivation phrase to invoke the voice commands; responsive to receivinga voice command, determining, by the processing system, an intent of thevoice command; sending the intent to a skill server, wherein the skillserver sends a request to a notification server to provide anidentification of the advertisement that is being displayed, wherein theTV client identifies the advertisement responsive to a query from thenotification server; receiving information associated with options,features, or a combination thereof for purchase of the product from theskill server; pausing, by the processing system, the content stream anddisplaying the information concerning the product; and sending, by theprocessing system, interaction data to the skill server, wherein theinteraction data is representative of user interaction responsive to theinformation displayed.
 16. The method of claim 15, comprising:receiving, by the processing system, oral input responsive to theinformation displayed.
 17. The method of claim 16, comprising:retrieving, by the processing system, further information responsive tothe voice command; and displaying, by the processing system, the furtherinformation.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the pausing of thedisplay of the content stream is responsive to receiving the particularactivation phrase, wherein a portion of the paused frame is visible to aviewer, and wherein the TV client provides a record of an impression ofthe advertisement to the ad server.
 19. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: retrieving, by the processing system, further informationresponsive to user input; and displaying, by the processing system, thefurther information.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the furtherinformation comprises confirmation of purchase of the product.